The Worst Storm on the Sound: A Train Wreck, a Drifting Ship, and Dead Wires

KALAMA, Dec. 23.—The Northern Pacific freight train No. 57, south bound, was wrecked a quarter of a mile south of Castle Rock shortly after 6 o'clock last night. A landslide was the cause of it. In a deep cut the landslide had moved the track, and before the engineer discovered it the engine went crashing into the bank, falling over on its side. The engineer, fireman and head brakeman were in the cab and escaped without injury, except that the brakeman was slightly scalded. His foot became caught and held him fast for some minutes before he could release himself. John McCluskie, who was taking a ride on the bumpers, was thrown about forty feet into the Cowlitz river, but swam ashore. Alfred Matthews, who was stealing a ride in a load of coal, had his right leg broken above the ankle. Two cars were hurled down the embankment and now lie at the bottom of the Cowlitz river. The cars were derailed and the whole track for 125 yards is badly torn up and the right-of-way completely blocked. The conductor, two brakemen and two passengers, who were in the caboose, escaped without a scratch. The caboose and five cars stayed on the track. It will take at least forty-eight hours to clear the wreck. Dr. Brooks attended those injured, reporting none fatally hurt.

SNOWED ACROSS TACOMA BAY. TACOMA, Dec. 23.—During the rain and windstorm this morning the British ship Glenmorag was blown across the bay, dragging the middle buoy with her. She had been discharging ballast preparatory to loading wheat and was nearly empty. The wind had full swoop, and when the vessel began to drift an anchor was dropped, but did not catch, and for a time it was feared the Glenmorag was going aground off Brown's Point. The tug Occident volunteered to aid the ship, but the captain thought she could weather the storm. He agreed, however, to send up a rocket if matters grew worse. At 5 o'clock in the morning the rocket was sent up, and the Occident went to the rescue, followed later by two other tugs, the Laurel and the Favorite. The Occident and other tugs could not move her on account of the heavy wind. Her anchor finally caught and she was considered safe until the wind goes down. Tonight the high wind continues. A steamboat man says the last few days' storm has been the worst ever experienced on the Sound. During the trip on Sunday Captain O'Brien says the Premier was tossed about like a cork. A horse caught between decks was thrown down, breaking its leg, and it had to be shot.

IN SEATTLE HARBOR. SEATTLE, Dec. 23.—The severest storm of the season raged during the last 36 hours. A southeast gale blew furiously, accompanied by a drenching, driving rain most of the time. Such a severe and long-continued storm has not been experienced in this section for many years, and unless reports of wrecks should come in later, it has caused peculiarly slight damage. The bay is flecked with white caps and incoming seas are heavy. Several of the smaller boats did not venture out in the afternoon at all and others did not come in. Work on the steamer Victorian's wheel had to be abandoned, owing to the sea breaking in over the top of the cofferdam. Considerable damage was done to the telegraph wires. The Western Union lines, after holding out well through the day, went down last evening at some points both south and east of Tacoma, and that city was the farthest point which could be reached southward.